Tuesday 3 July 2012

It's Live!! And Mainly about Music and Slamfest.

So let me see if we can get this week’s News Blog out on time.  

I’ve got to say the end of this past week has been especially good musically, and certainly for me, underline the fantastic talent that we have in South Yorkshire.

Friday evening performing for a Fund Raiser for Rotherham Art Events was two young Bands, Chicago Innocence a young Rotherham based Band, whose idea the event was and in support from Doncaster came The Surrogates, performing away from home for a “proper Gig” for the first time.   

Chicago Innocence served up a diet of mainly covers, with the odd self-penned Indie song thrown in for good measure.  They have a fantastic big sound with brass and keyboards mixing nicely with the traditional guitar line up, and a very strong lead singer.  I know that the boys and girls play what they enjoy leading to what I’ve been told is a variable play list and also making for an entertaining listening experience. 


The Surrogates provided a total contrast serving up a set made up of their own material.  I love to hear original material, especially from young Bands.  But it’s not easy for Original Bands to get the Gigs or develop that following so essential to finding Gigs.  Confidence is the key, and The Surrogates five piece guitar and keyboard set up certainly gave the impression of total confidence in what they were doing.   The music itself suggested to me a fusion of Human League and Blur.  From talking to the Band I don’t think this was contrived, but merely reflected the music they enjoy listening to themselves, and the lead singer has a voice to kill for and so much like Phil Okey making a perfect fit for the music.   However, a bit of work needs to be done on the vocal musical arrangement and the use of harmonies – not easy, but if the Band can produce work of this high standard then I’m sure that the vocal work will come.  

The Saturday night I was at the Bridge to hand out some fliers…………    job done…………….  But really to take a look at Waiting for Eddie.   As it happens it would have been a long wait on Saturday as Eddie was away, working, he told Rachel.  
But Waiting for Eddie.  This was one of their first Gigs together as a Band and what can I say, they simply blew me away.  From the first chord they attacked, and didn’t stop for half an hour of high energy punk.  What makes the performance so impressive was that 85% of the songs played were their own work, what’s more the songs all worked wonderfully with biting lyrics to fit their biting guitar work.   And also for ones so young they were bursting with confidence although I know they must have been eaten by nerves inside.   And there is room for growth and development. 

A mistake often made is that Punk is an undisciplined music form, but yet like anything that looks or sounds so simple the drive and rhythm needs to be “together” if it is to work and produce the right sound.  Waiting for Eddie are almost there, but need a little work especially in getting the bass and drummer to listen to each other – it will come with experience though.  The undoubted stand out was lead vocals / guitarist Em, a talent that needs to be nurtured and encouraged – full of confidence – and full of creativity.  The brilliant delivery reminded very much of the early Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde in particular – with that I don’t need to say more, stars of the future, who will be in great demand around the music venues of South Yorkshire.

The starring role of a former Gill owned Les Paul Copy was also very impressive and was played with expertise produced a sound that even Gill probably didn’t realise it could produce.

To keep Mrs Masher happy I had to miss Papa Legba’s and head back to Rawmarsh and the Club.  Oh dear.  There we had “The Future”, The Advertiser says.   It’s a Band I’ve seen several times in one format or another and to be honest I’m not sure that they are called The Future, as it’s a name that does not fit with a tribute / 80 /90 Band except with considerable irony. 

The key feature of the Band is that one morning the singer woke up and discovered that his PA had an effects knob and so heavy effects on the vocal mic; reverberating so much that the band clearly had to slow some of the numbers down, just to cope.  The first set, and I didn’t see this one is normally Phil Collins and Genesis based, while the second set is full of Eurhythmics and Erasia, AhHa etc: a guarantee of getting someone to dance.

Some of the numbers were brilliantly executed, but how much was a live performance and how much was back tracked will of course remain a mystery.    Sadly from my perspective 60% of the second set was close to dire, and was only kept alive by the talented keyboard players as the vocalist forgot words, and worse, basic melody lines……………..   and why was he losing melody lines?  He was singing to the accompaniment.   It was really quite funny. 

The best performed song of the night was the very last one, (no not for Masher reasons), having started to break down, they had turned off some of the effects on the vocals, and he had to work, proving that he didn’t need to use all the clever electronics.  Another example I fear of how a diet of second rate stuff can become the best thing since sliced bread in Club Land, as quite clearly the evening was enjoyed by all.  Three call backs.  All down to the play list and back tracking or keyboard playing.

The programme for Slamfest has taken shape and you can find the full week of special events HERE  Besides these special events there is the usual host of Clubs and sessions going off around Rotherham, and you can find those on our Listings Page HERE.   

One additional Concert has been added to take place at The Titans Social Club.  Thursday 26th July  when Cracktown will be coming to Town joined by Swansong and Crafty Jack.  Tickets available HERE

All the Stages and line ups are available for Rock Rotherham Saturday, 28th July and we’ve created what we think is a super Jukebox of Rotherham and District Bands on the Web Page HERE

Mick will be publishing appearance times and general instructions to Bands for the day very soon watch the Facebook Page HERE

The line-up for Chill Out Sunday at the Queens on Sunday 29th July should be available by the end of this week.

I’m sure most of you will have seen the coverage that we got in “The Scene” on Friday as part of The Rotherham Advertiser last week.  Brilliant, is all I can say and so refreshing for the local music scene in Rotherham to get such a fine write up in the local paper even if it was spoilt a little bit by an inappropriate photograph of Mick and The Masher.  Given past moans from myself about the policy of The Advertiser towards local art events, credit where credit is due.

Stragglers have until Thursday to reserve Advertising space in the Programme.   If any of the Bands is actually reading this, if you would like a small write up about yourselves in the programme please also send them in by Thursday. 

Sponsorship of Stages or donations can be accepted after that date…………….   Lol  

I don’t make light of our need for funds to mount this week long Festival and the Month long Fringe Festival coming up in October.   The more Partners joining us the better.  And besides the huge amount of time that has been invested in the project, The Mashing Machine is also up for sale to help finance the event.  Last call before we head for the dreaded Ebay, anyone wanting to talk around £1,300 will be listened to.  Email Dickie HERE

I’ve seen posters with the timings for the various Stages today; I don’t think it will be long before Mick feels confident enough to publish.  We’ve both decided that on publishing timings we’re going to escape Rotherham as quickly as we can for two or three days while everyone fights it out. 

I would ask all Acts and Bands taking part in Slamfest / Rock Rotherham Saturday and Chill Out Sunday to please help publicise Slamfest by listing in Gig listings, and Mailings to their supporters.

And a reminder that our Bands will be very busy over July with many appearing at Beanfest and Tramlines in the weeks running up to Slamfest, OK and a mention for Bombfest to who were short-sighted enough to pick Slamfest Rock Rotherham Saturday for their expensive day at the Mill.  (he jests). Check out the Listings page for links to the main Festival site HERE

For the acoustic and folk artists who think that I have deserted them.  We’ve two stages as part of Rock Rotherham Saturday, The Exchange (Used to be Yates Wine Bar (remember them?)) and of course across the road at the Imperial Building, plus there is Chill Out Sunday at The Queens on the Sunday. 



John McCullagh, he who is living on the other side of the World has a new CD out entitled “Working Class Low Life”.  If you can’t wait until John performs at the Fringe Festival in October to get your hands on a copy of this Album, then you can buy them on Ebay HERE or link up with John at Facebook HERE and PM with your wish. 



Another of my favourite local Bands has an a CD out.  We were lucky enough to get Garforth and Myers to appear at an Acoustic Rotherham where they were very generous in handing out their demo EP CDs and now the full product is available.  It’s another of those CDs that I want to get my hands on – hint, hint – for passing onto Mr Kidman of course for him to run his ears over what I know will be a masterful product.  £10 HERE

A bit of funding politics.  ROAR have announced that they were, well we were, unsuccessful in our bid to the Creative People and Places Fund.   This is very disappointing, especially for those who did the hard work at pulling together all the threads to write the Bid.  Apparently feedback is being sought from the Arts Council as there is a round two. 

I appreciate that for some there was a big intake of breath when RAE announced that a Concert would be dedicated to the Memory of Myke Barritt on his Birthday during Slamfest on 27th July at The Bridge, and that it would be of the very best Punk Music.   But never fear those who might wish a quieter / or the Myke Birthday Bash type gathering, Roy has told me that one is to be held at The Nottingham House, Broomhill, Sheffield.  Not surprisingly The Masher was not invited, but then the organisers may have thought I was busy elsewhere lol.   

The eagled eyed might have spotted that Slamfest features the Official Roy Blackman CD Launch.  This is taking place at Myplace on Tuesday 24th July with Paul Pearson and Keystone Acoustic providing the support.   Should be a fantastic evening of music.  Tickets are available HERE or can be reserved by using the Email address you can find on that page. Listen out as Roy will be on RotherFM at some point over the next couple of weeks.


Busy week a head folks.  It’s The Red Lion, Braithwell, Folk Club tomorrow night. (Tuesday)  John will be in the Chair to guide you through another fine evening of Folk Music.

On Friday night at The Bridge the ROMPers will be out and about, despite many heading to London for the Marxist Weekend and at the same venue on Saturday my old mates Pocketful of N’owt will be doing their thing in another fine evening of entertainment. 

Over the weekend, fine supporters of Acoustic Rotherham and Rotherham Art Events, Storm Trees are on tour lol, playing the Woodlands Club on Friday and The Yellow Lion Greasbrough on Saturday.  No excuse for missing this fine Band in their Electric line up. 

Also on Friday it’s Play On at The Rutland, and the start of the Clerkheaton Folk Festival which will run through the weekend……………………………..  I have not forgotten this year!

And all the excellent live music can be found on our listings Page HERE

Until the next time, have a great week, support your local artists and KEEP IT LIVE.

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